Section 2 Flashcards
a power not expressly defined in the Constitution but permitted to Congress through a loose interpretation of the Necessary and Proper Clause
IMPLIED POWERS
powers of the President or Congress that are neither enumerated or implied but assumed to exist as a direct result of a country’s existence
INHERENT POWER
the right and responsibility of one branch of government to review and monitor other bodies; example; congress oversees federal agencies/programs which are managed by the executive branch
OVERSIGHT
a small set of representatives tasked with considering, researching, introducing and investigating particular policy areas
COMMITTEES
in the context of the U.S. budget, spending that can be altered from year to year through the congressional appropriations process; includes scientific research, housing assistance, VA healthcare, education and transportation
DISCRETIONARY SPENDING
a plan for what government will receive in revenue and spend over the next fiscal year including a set of budget priorities and discretionary spending limits
BUDGET RESOLUTION
spending on often unnecessary local projects that benefit a specific member of Congress’ district or state
PORK BARREL SPENDING
the ability of the an executive to reject specific portions of a piece of legislation rather than reject the entire bill; most governors in the US have this power, President does not
LINE ITEM VETO
one of the enumerate (express) powers of Congress; to regulate commerce and trade between two or more states
INTERSTATE COMMERCE CLAUSE
a constitutional power stating that Presidential nominations for executive and judicial posts take effect only when confirmed by Senate; foreign treaties become official only with 2/3 vote of Senate
ADVICE AND CONSENT
also referred to as absolute majority, any number greater than 50%
SUPERMAJORITY
political procedure conducted by a legislator (Senator) to delay or prevent debate on a proposal; usually by holding the floor and speaking continuously refusing to yield; 3/5 Senators present must vote to end it
FILIBUSTER
government organizations created by Congress to enforce laws, policies, and government programs; organized under president in the executive branch and collectively employ millions of federal workers
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCIES
permanent/broader area of focus; ex: foreign relations or armed services
STANDING COMMITTEE
temporary focus on specific issues; do not propose bills; reformed each new Congress
SELECT COMMITTEE
members come from both houses; focus on general issues
JOINT COMMITTEE
reconcile versions of same bill passed in both houses; members come from both houses
CONFERENCE COMMITTEE
Senate: unlimited debate; not as strong as House Rules Committee
House: next step for bill after standing committee; set limits on debates; changes made and when on calendar
RULES COMMITTEE
the party that has the most seats in each chamber of Congress
MAJORITY PARTY
the party that has the least seats in each chamber of Congress
MINORITY PARTY
the leadership position in the House of Representatives selected by majority party; chief presiding officer House of Representatives
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE
leader selected by majority party; second highest position in the house
MAJORITY LEADER
leader of minority party; 3rd highest position in the House; selected by minority party
MINORITY LEADER
presides over Senate in absence of VP; longest serving senator from majority party
President Pro Tempore
a procedure that seeks to stop a filibuster by a supermajority vote; needs 60 votes
CLOTURE
enumeration by federal government every ten years to determine how many people each state holds
CENSUS
because House seats are permanently fixed at 435, each state after a federal census can gain or lose house seats because of population changes
REAPPORTIONMENT
the redrawing of the boundaries of the legislative districts every ten years using Census data within each state
REDISTRICTING
abuse of the redistricting system means drawing electoral boundaries to favor a political party or group
GERRYMANDERING
a constitutional power giving the President authority over all parts of the U.S. military, including promoting and dismissing military commanders and officers
COMMANDER IN CHIEF
means two factions, consensus on a particular government action, issue, or law between both major political parties
BIPARTISAN
a principle of U.S. policy, first articulated by Pres James Monroe, declaring that interventions by European powers in the affairs of the nations of the Western Hemisphere would be considered intolerable acts of aggression by the U.S.
THE MONROE DOCTRINE
court cases based on civil law, not criminal law; regulates disagreements between individuals and companies, individuals and government agencies, and foreign individuals or governments, including questions of Constitutionality
CIVIL CASES
a principle that courts have the power to overturn laws passed by Congress and even actions of the President if such laws or actions conflict with the Constitution
(Marbury v. Madison case)
JUDICIAL REVIEW
meaning “let the decision stand” this is a principle that courts should rely on previous decisions and established precedents as they make decisions
STARE DECISIS
a viewpoint that US courts should defend individual rights and liberties and stop actions by other branches of government that they see infringing on those rights
JUDICIAL ACTIVISM
an approach to interpreting the Constitution based on the idea that the national government can only do the things that are specifically mentioned in the Constitution
STRICT CONSTRUCTION
an approach to interpreting the Constitution based on the idea that judges can reinterpret constitutional language to create new legal standards; appropriate for changing conditions
LOOSE CONSTRUCTION
a viewpoint judges should be reluctant to overturn the acts of Congress, the President, or the states, deferring decisions (and thus policy making) to elected branches of government; focus on a narrow, strict interpretation of the Bill of Rights
JUDICIAL RESTRAINT
a clause in the US Constitution, formally known as the Necessary and Proper Clause, that can be “stretched” to allow Congress to make laws on policies beyond enumerated powers; stretching produces implied powers
ELASTIC CLAUSE
powers shared by the state and federal government to tax, to borrow money, to build infrastructure, to establish courts, legal punishments, and to declare imminent domain
CONCURRENT POWERS
